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Buying gas via credit could temporarily dent your available credit by $151

GasBuddy Blog -- Long have we heard complaints from some of our users that some gas stations have been putting significant holds on customers who choose to use credit cards. While I had never personally seen such a thing happen to me, I was "lucky" enough to have it happen to me last weekend.

I pulled into a travel stop in Burns Harbor, Indiana, on a motorcycle, with a measly 4.5 gallon tank. I only needed to top off, so I bought just a couple gallons of gasoline, left, and didn't think much of my $12 purchase.

After looking at my credit card transactions online later that afternoon I learned that the travel center in question put a massive $151 hold on my credit card- all for $12 in gasoline. In past situations, I'd notice a $1 pre-authorization...

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Submitted Oct 26, 2012 By: PD

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borsht All-Star Author Oakland Posts:812 Points:193,765 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Nov 29, 2012 2:57:46 PM Ignore borsht Report Abuse IMHO, If you have a credit card and pay off the balance every month, the credit card is the way to transact small business.. Debit cards and cash are too much of a nuisance.
dockersbin Veteran Author Virginia Beach Posts:407 Points:262,635 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Nov 29, 2012 9:45:09 AM Ignore dockersbin Report Abuse It has been like this for years. I know because it happened about 6 years ago to me. I now only use credit cards while travlling.
jwalkerh Champion Author Louisiana Posts:6,145 Points:1,369,580 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Nov 29, 2012 7:46:47 AM Ignore jwalkerh Report Abuse Use the credit card instead of the debit card...
sackman All-Star Author North Carolina Posts:617 Points:276,930 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Nov 29, 2012 6:10:42 AM Ignore sackman Report Abuse Hmmmm
99dakota Champion Author Providence Posts:8,127 Points:2,175,925 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Nov 28, 2012 2:18:40 AM Ignore 99dakota Report Abuse Old news. This is why you use credit, not debit...
SuziLew All-Star Author California Posts:537 Points:168,145 Joined:Jul 2010	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 3:08:22 PM Ignore SuziLew Report Abuse Wow. One more reason to have a higher account balance on trips.
txrojo2005 All-Star Author Austin Posts:770 Points:482,135 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 2:21:22 PM Ignore txrojo2005 Report Abuse This is the first time I have heard of this situation. [Edited by: txrojo2005 at 11/19/2012 5:21:49 PM EST]
gasokie Champion Author Oklahoma Posts:3,451 Points:1,327,985 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Nov 19, 2012 12:00:02 PM Ignore gasokie Report Abuse It's good they do this..just makes sense for them to continue it. It's for our own protection in a very risky operation...using our credit cards. I was having a coffee break down at the nursing home where my mom is and with this bunch of underpaid nurses-aids and they were griping about the high price of gas for their gas guzzling clunkers when this blonde girl says: "I don't worry about the prices anymore...nothing I can do about it she continues....just buy what I need and I just pay so much a month." We all just looked at her. Happiness is.......being blonde.
Radicalrose Sophomore Author Modesto Posts:125 Points:366,400 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Nov 18, 2012 5:25:29 PM Ignore Radicalrose Report Abuse interesting......
Gas4Gore Champion Author Detroit Posts:2,436 Points:426,800 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Nov 17, 2012 12:02:57 PM Ignore Gas4Gore Report Abuse Only if you pay interest on it.
wayne2nd Rookie Author Champaign Posts:13 Points:27,185 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 8:17:33 AM Ignore wayne2nd Report Abuse That sucks glad its never happened to me.
DucatiRider Rookie Author Maryland Posts:70 Points:1,200 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Nov 5, 2012 8:21:31 AM Ignore DucatiRider Report Abuse How is it so hard for this to be instant. If I go to Taco Hell and get a burrito, the correct value posts in about 5 minutes.
Karisholman Veteran Author Nevada Posts:281 Points:171,160 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Nov 4, 2012 12:47:08 PM Ignore Karisholman Report Abuse This is preferable to being limited to putting say $50 on the credit card which does not fill the tank. But I can certainly see why this could hurt some customers with small limits or ight on credit. Their card might be declined ina situation where they need the credit.
dcone2 All-Star Author Los Angeles Posts:934 Points:87,560 Joined:Jul 2012	Message Posted: Nov 3, 2012 12:13:22 PM Ignore dcone2 Report Abuse ok
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,650 Points:1,612,445 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Nov 3, 2012 7:00:45 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse sandra: some of it is probably exchange fees too.
sandraK Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:4,197 Points:337,485 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Nov 3, 2012 5:03:01 AM Ignore sandraK Report Abuse I got a $90 hold in Canada.Took a week for it to correct to the $40 I really got.I was in panic mode.
paulweb All-Star Author Ohio Posts:811 Points:357,495 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Nov 2, 2012 6:52:12 PM Ignore paulweb Report Abuse I've seen the $1 hold, never $151. The card we mostly use is a Visa with a fairly large credit line.
mayzz Rookie Author Memphis Posts:2 Points:13,680 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Nov 2, 2012 4:54:05 PM Ignore mayzz Report Abuse That's total BS, man something should be done to gas station owners that practice that kind of crap.
laskiblue Rookie Author Riverside Posts:24 Points:1,770 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Nov 2, 2012 1:00:30 PM Ignore laskiblue Report Abuse When I am short on gas and short on money from other sources, it's hard to find gas stations that allow me to use the debit card I have associated with online payments to me because, for whatever reason, it's a Master Card, not a VISA. Apparently using a Master Card is seen as more risky to the gas station than using a VISA. Who knew?
nstrdnvstr Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:36,875 Points:3,987,880 Joined:May 2001	Message Posted: Nov 2, 2012 12:19:37 PM Ignore nstrdnvstr Report Abuse That hold is the equivalent of almost 40 gallons of gas. Not any vehicles have gas tanks that big.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,650 Points:1,612,445 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Nov 2, 2012 2:43:02 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse gigi: you'd think...
KAR120CSII Champion Author Oregon Posts:3,193 Points:623,645 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Nov 1, 2012 7:17:50 PM Ignore KAR120CSII Report Abuse Wow. Who woulda thought?
gigigas2012 Rookie Author Dallas Posts:15 Points:4,150 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Nov 1, 2012 6:14:28 PM Ignore gigigas2012 Report Abuse This has been going on for years, not new! By now all consumers should know about holds and debit cards.
Donatelo Champion Author Dayton Posts:1,129 Points:295,245 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Nov 1, 2012 12:29:20 PM Ignore Donatelo Report Abuse ok
CapriceWagon All-Star Author Washington Posts:949 Points:481,770 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Nov 1, 2012 8:35:25 AM Ignore CapriceWagon Report Abuse I haven't had a problem with it lately, it seems like 5 or 10 years ago they'd put a $50 or $100 hold on money in your card, which would really screw you if you didn't have a lot of money in your account
prcoqui Champion Author Maryland Posts:3,960 Points:1,675,900 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Nov 1, 2012 3:43:04 AM Ignore prcoqui Report Abuse Unbelievable.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,650 Points:1,612,445 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Nov 1, 2012 2:42:00 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse MiCargo: Methinks it wasn't $1, but $151. For many people in today's world, that's a lot of money. May even make the difference between overdraft and not.
jim27106 All-Star Author North Carolina Posts:771 Points:784,605 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Oct 31, 2012 9:36:24 PM Ignore jim27106 Report Abuse BS. It is the gas station that determines the hold.
MiCARgo Veteran Author Akron Posts:311 Points:25,570 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Oct 31, 2012 9:35:09 AM Ignore MiCARgo Report Abuse It seems the card co. wants to be sure they get their money. I still do not mind the $1 hold fee.
MOREDLEG Champion Author Missouri Posts:2,666 Points:614,035 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Oct 31, 2012 9:12:20 AM Ignore MOREDLEG Report Abuse I never had this happen,
dfred65 Rookie Author Georgia Posts:2 Points:165 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Oct 31, 2012 6:49:54 AM Ignore dfred65 Report Abuse I have had the 75.00 hold before, but not 151.00, wow, what if you are running close to maximum credit limit, would the hold cause a denial of credit, or start up an over the limit fee?
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,650 Points:1,612,445 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Oct 31, 2012 2:56:45 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse MntryBG: It is many card issuers, but not all. Don't think it's a California thing.
dcone2 All-Star Author Los Angeles Posts:934 Points:87,560 Joined:Jul 2012	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 8:13:37 PM Ignore dcone2 Report Abuse ok
MntryBayGal Rookie Author Salinas Posts:4 Points:2,045 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 6:45:40 PM Ignore MntryBayGal Report Abuse I have never had this happen to me, and have no knowledge of it. Maybe CA is different? I usually rent a car when out of state and of course have to fill it up, but still have not had it happen. hmmmm I have a CC that I get airline miles on. The cash back ones are junk in my opinion, because there is a cap as to how much you can get back. The problem out here in the larger cities (in So Cal like LA area, San Jose, San Fran) the prob with debit cards can be people stealing your info and pin #. Then again, I know no one personally that this has happened to.
captcarl5 Veteran Author Pennsylvania Posts:421 Points:178,055 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 10:48:02 AM Ignore captcarl5 Report Abuse pay with credit its safer and youcould get reward points
Donatelo Champion Author Dayton Posts:1,129 Points:295,245 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 8:58:24 AM Ignore Donatelo Report Abuse ok
MATTC64 Rookie Author Michigan Posts:71 Points:458,465 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Oct 30, 2012 5:51:45 AM Ignore MATTC64 Report Abuse this sucks
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,650 Points:1,612,445 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Oct 29, 2012 9:07:07 PM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse nightworker: that's pretty cool. Around here, NO ONE has that.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,650 Points:1,612,445 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Oct 29, 2012 9:05:29 PM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse danny, in some cases, who would want to carry that much cash? It takes a lot to fill some larger vehicles, esp. diesel trucks being used for towing utility trailers. They often have 30+ gallon tanks and at $4+/gal for diesel, it gets pretty expensive pretty fast.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,650 Points:1,612,445 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Oct 29, 2012 9:01:39 PM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse 18&L: Debit cards are subject to the same hold charges.
18andLife Rookie Author Charleston Posts:11 Points:3,510 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Oct 29, 2012 7:43:08 PM Ignore 18andLife Report Abuse This is an unacceptable practice, even worse than the $1-1.50 charge for paying at the pump, I assume because the gas pump is an unapproved ATM. This may be a reason my bank stopped using Visa, and switched all ATM/Debit cards to MasterCard. This practice has to stop!
danny1460 Rookie Author Atlanta Posts:84 Points:302,830 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Oct 29, 2012 7:33:39 PM Ignore danny1460 Report Abuse Better than subtracting $151 from your checking account..If your credit is that maxed out or so low of limit you should be paying cash anyway!
mantarran Rookie Author Colorado Posts:37 Points:26,660 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Oct 29, 2012 6:32:45 PM Ignore mantarran Report Abuse These days everything affects your credit......... Total B.S.
1OILMAN Champion Author Alabama Posts:2,080 Points:161,530 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Oct 29, 2012 10:15:16 AM Ignore 1OILMAN Report Abuse It is NOT the retailer but the Credit Card Company, usually Visa.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,650 Points:1,612,445 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Oct 29, 2012 2:56:36 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse rickfro: not so b/c the money isn't really "money" until there is some time lapse.
truvoice1 Champion Author San Diego Posts:1,298 Points:477,265 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Oct 29, 2012 2:33:00 AM Ignore truvoice1 Report Abuse Be smart, use cash. Every time you use a debit or credit card you are leaving a 'paper trail' that allows big brother and all of the world's marketing companies to know where you shop and what you bought. Who needs that? Take control of your life and who gets to peak into you personal buying habits!
tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:33,090 Points:2,348,435 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Oct 29, 2012 12:08:28 AM Ignore tomok Report Abuse Buying gas via credit could temporarily dent your available credit by $151? I have never had a credit card hold happen to me but the practice should be stopped! I use a cash back credit card for everything, I use their money for a month and it's paid off every month. This extra charge should be illegal, fines imposed for businesses that don't stop and avoid those stations at all cost in the future. Whatever the size or shape of the vehicle, Produce and ‘Drive’ vehicles with high MPG, are very safe, reliable, have a ‘reasonable’ cost and a good ‘value’ for the money. The price of fuel at the pump is too high! XII/XXII/MMXII!
rickfro All-Star Author San Diego Posts:685 Points:329,345 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Oct 28, 2012 4:51:51 PM Ignore rickfro Report Abuse It makes sense, but it should come right off when the transaction is complete.
remay Champion Author Houston Posts:6,983 Points:2,120,540 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Oct 28, 2012 3:29:58 PM Ignore remay Report Abuse Wow! Guess I better start checking more often!
Endoman5000 Veteran Author Michigan Posts:464 Points:352,680 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Oct 28, 2012 2:07:39 PM Ignore Endoman5000 Report Abuse Not cool. Should be illegal.